Alejandro Huante
Informatics student
Q: Please share any additional academic plans (dual degree, research focus, minor, specialization, etc.) you’re pursuing.
A: A minor in Diversity
Q: What about the information field do you find exciting and how do you hope to make an impact?
A: I am a huge people person, so what really excites me about the information field is User Experience and User Interface. I love observing how people interact with technology and how to improve their experience. I hope to make an impact by bringing a diverse approach to the projects that I work on and help represent the underrepresented community.
Q: What inspired you to pursue your degree/career plan?
A: Something that really inspired me was an experience I had when working with the Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity. I am a mentor to high school students and help them apply to the UW. Some students brought to my attention that there were questions that were very invasive, which pushed them away from the UW. This motivated me to research the problem and to speak with the creators of the platform for the UW application. This was when I noticed that I could be a voice for the communities that are underrepresented.
Q: Tell us about an experience you’ve had at the iSchool that has informed or reshaped your career goals?
A: To be honest I have always been set on my goals for my future. But something that helped reinforce what I want to do was working with one of the Ph.D. students from the iSchool. She helped me do some research on the UW application process and how to go about reaching out to the company behind it. It made me so happy that someone was willing to take the time to talk me through this process so that I could continue to help the communities that may not be considered as much or at all.
Q: What’s been your favorite iSchool course or learning experience (i.e. directed fieldwork, research project, etc.)?
A: One of my favorite courses I have taken at the iSchool was actually INFO 200. I had a lot of fun with this class and the project my group and I decided to tackle. We won the best project award, which was awesome.
Q: What about your educational journey thus far are you most proud of?
A: I am most proud of actually attending college. Growing up, I never saw myself attending college. I did not think I was good nor smart enough to attend one, which really affected how I thought about what I was able to amount to. I am also a first generation college student, so the thought of college or how to take the steps to apply for schools and financial aid was way above my head.
Q: What is next on the horizon for you?
A: What's next for me aside from my studies is to continue being involved with Informatics Undergraduate Association and helping to bring our iSchool community together. I am also on the hunt for an internship opportunity this summer. I am most excited to start these outreach events for the Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity and help students reach their goals of attending the UW.
Q: What is the best advice you have received?
A: The best advice I have received is to learn how to tell your story. Understanding where you came from and the steps you have taken to get where you are today are very important to acknowledge. This can also allow you to inspire others that may be in a similar position you are in. Something else I learned was how to look at the negatives and rejection as positive experiences that can help you grow and improve on in the future.